001the board of ed business meeting this evening. Mr. Jazinski, roll call, please. >> Mr. >> here. >> Dr. Mr. Rose >> here. >> Thank you. Would you please join us in the pledge of allegiance? I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for it stands one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all. >> All right, our first order of business um to the individuals who I did not meet last time so I apologize for my absence. So, it's Matteline and Connor >> from Chetra High School representing the board of ed. So, if you'll please give us the report what's happening out there. >> Um, good evening everyone. We hope you're all enjoying the beginning of this spooky season. And we are happy to say
002we have some scary good news to present to you all of you this evening. Starting off with an update from our fantastic sports teams where several individuals were recognized for their sportsmanship by receiving the 2024 2025 CIA Michael's Jewelers Achievement Cup. This award recognizes individuals for their character on the field in the stands and their community service within the sports world. Speaking of our athletics on the field, the girls cross country team placed first in the SEC divisionals. Our boys team was runner up with an individual first place win by sophomore Jack Mooney. As the fall sports season wraps up, our fall teams are having a great deal of success and are looking forward to their following postseason runs that'll be coming up in the next few weeks. >> We would also like to recognize
003two athletes who, you know, have really gone above and beyond. Um, first we'd like to recognize Wyatt Jawick, a member of the Cheshire Rams baseball team. So Wyatt recently completed his Eagle Scout project, refurbishing the uh baseball stands at Cheshure High School. Uh they came out really, really well and it was definitely a need for Cheshire High School. We would also like to recognize um softball pitcher Jennica Moss who was recently recognized nationally by CBS Mornings. Uh Jennica has been one of the top pitchers in the state and she was recognized for not only her dominance on the mound, but for the fact that she is legally blind. So, a really good thing for her overcoming all the challenges and definitely some deserving recognition. >> As members of the Southern Connecticut Conference, our sport, our
004fall sports captains attended the SEC captain's council. Our student athlete leaders collaborated with other athletes who belong to the SEC conference to create a public service announcement promoting a positive environment at sporting events and within our own sports teams. >> Besides sports, you know, Cheshire High School has a lot of really exciting things going on. Um, they recently had a really successful blood drive. I had the opportunity to donate. I could say it was very wellrun. It was my first time giving blood, so I might not have been the best patient, but they took really great care of me. They got me a donut and they they made sure I didn't pass out. So, it went really well. Um, and obviously, you know, the event makes a really big difference for a lot of people.
005Um, also, we have 15 German exchange students with us right now. Uh they are from Cologne, Germany, and you know they get the exciting opportunity to experience Cheshire High School. Um and they get the chance to stay with some awesome host families. If none of that news isn't thrilling enough, students in grades 9th through 11th grade still have the PSAT exam to look forward to on Wednesday, October 22nd. As these students are preparing themselves for the official SAT exam, seniors are expected to use this day as a future readiness day, giving them time to visit colleges or work on college applications. Given that the deadlines are hauntingly close. >> Yeah. So, the Halloween spirit is alive and well at Cheshure High School. Uh coming up, we have the CHS Spooktacular. um that's run by Best
006Buddies and it sets up kind of this um Halloween show at Cheshire High School where we have all the different clubs and sports teams bring their cars and dress up in character and pass out candy to the families that come through. Uh for the groups that I'm involved in, NHS is sporting a founding fathers theme station and Winterfest has a kind of dual station. We're doing a um kind of a Christmas in July. We have Maui and then we have our traditional uh Christmas characters. But in addition to that, on Halloween, Chesher High School will also have their traditional costume parade where we invite all the students at Cheshire High School if they want to walk around the track once in costume. Uh we really get a big turnout of a lot of sports teams
007who are really creative. Um and there's always some brave students that take part in that, too. Um but these are just a few of the many events that are going on at CHS that are spreading the creative ambiance throughout the entire student body. Other ways include um the paintings that are in the senior law right now. There is a wide diversity of paintings and designs from seniors with exceptional aesthetic intuition. Another form of creative expression happening at CHS is generated at the 41st annual music in motion marching band competition this Saturday. actually um ensembles from across the Connecticut and ours included will perform displaying tremendous talent and determination at this event. You can expect incredible music, dazzling flags, concession raffles, and so much more. >> So, as October goes on, we hope you guys have
008a great Halloween and we'll be sure to keep you posted on what's going on at Ches High School. >> See you all next month. Thank you. >> Thank you. Any board members, Mr. White? Thank you so much for the for the update. Really appreciate it. I did want to just uh touch on one topic to understand it. You had mentioned uh something along the lines of PSAT day for freshman through juniors and then seniors have the opportunity to take that day to go visit colleges, work on applications. Was that did I hear? >> Okay. So then this question is not really for you. I just want to clarify this with the superintendent and I'm sure he sees this coming. Um, just as a reminder to people, my for the two of you and for anybody
009else watching, I think college is a great opportunity for many people. Um, but I don't know that it's for everyone and I also don't know that it's for everyone when they are graduating high school. It may be better, you know, a gap year or some time before they go to college. So, what I'm thinking about is somebody who wants to go become a plumber. Does the PSAT apply to someone who's going to become a planning to become a plumber? Again, this is I'm looking at you, but it's really for the superintendent. He I guarantee he already has an answer for this. >> Yeah, just just wondering about that. >> Thought you had more, but yeah, the PSAT definitely uh if you want to become a plumber, it's relevant there, too. >> Okay. >> Um in
010the sense that if you're going to trade schools, some schools will ask for your standardized testing scores, others will just give you a test. Okay. Um, but it also allows us to to see your progress over time in our school system. At the high school level, we don't have a lot of common assessments that are given um benchmark assessments, I would I should say, rather than common assessments throughout the high school transition. So, it's a good time. It's a good way for us to see growth over time. >> Okay. >> Um, so it is relevant there, too. But I was just thinking the conversation got me thinking about we're focused on and we already have our a lot of our regular trade partners signed on. Richard Chevy, Hanoa Aerospace, um FF Hitchcock, uh uh I
011know there are others manufacturing, >> Marian. Yeah, I mean the the usual suspects who are going to welcome our uh middle school students and early high school students. But this might be an interesting opportunity for seniors that day to go visit those guy. I could work with them on that um PSC day to to see if that could be a relationship there too. So >> we'll look into that. >> Thank you. >> Something that like the blood drive we could sink our teeth into. Yeah, I was surprised that one >> that one surprised that didn't come up. >> Any other board members comments, questions? >> I just wanted to mention again, I did see a picture of a before and after project that your Eagle that the Eagle Scout um and it was incredible. Did
012such a great job. So again, kudos to him and to the >> the scouts and the scout master and everyone. And I know a lot of parents I saw in the picture were there. So, job well done. >> Yeah, Wyatt's a good friend of mine. So, it was really good. He got he got a great crowd and he did a really good job not just doing it himself, but he also managed the project really well, too. >> Yeah, we'll be inviting him here to Yeah. take a bite. >> I would hope so. Yeah. >> Yeah, for sure. Any other comments, Mr. Gribble? >> These buttons, I'll tell you, these new microphones. Um, firstly, uh, I want to compliment you on your presentation. It's almost as if you rehearsed it. It's like you guys switched off,
013you know. It felt real smooth. Uh, not to put down any of our other, uh, uh, couples over the years, past reps over the years, but, uh, exquisite presentation this evening. Um, secondly, if you've never been to Music in Motion, I've been to tens of them probably. Well, probably more than that, but uh a great great time if you've never been to Music in Motion. Um and lastly, uh since u my son's now at the high school, as I've mentioned probably hundred times already, I've uh spent a little time in that parking lot waiting for him. And I want to give a special shout out to Spot number 40 because um they did Out of Time uh from Back There features, one of my personal favorite movies. They did the actual license plate in their
014in their uh parking spot. So, whoever that is, >> they did an excellent job. So, congratulations on that. So, >> that's all I have. >> Um yeah. Um I believe it's Patrick Lanca's spot, but my friend actually painted that. >> Oh, wow. Excellent. >> Contrast team effort. >> Yeah. Really fantastic. >> Uh Katie Paggle. >> We'll shout out We'll shout out Katie. Yeah, we'll be in the play coming up. All the other ones are great, too, but I like that one especially. So, >> yeah. Yeah. Some incredible artwork out there. >> Impressive. >> Awesome. Any other board members, Mr. No. >> Awesome. I I do have to second Mr. White. I do agree that, you know, our students should have options whether it be college or career. Um, you know, but at the same time,
015I think, um, standardized tests are still essential because even if you go, and I'm looking at you because I'm hoping you spread the word. even if you do go um and get a industry certification, you still have to take some sort of test to get that certification, no matter what work place it is. So um I think it's still necessary for you guys at your age to still be familiar with that type of condition and setting for testing too. Um but overall, yeah, it was such a spooktacular report. Thank you for coming. [Laughter] Next item would be audience um participation. If there are any audience members who would like to go to the podium. I see Mr. Masiana's gearing up. So no. You'll pass. Awesome. Um committee reports. We're going to start with finance. Uh
016Dr. Carrian is not here. Mr. Gerpo, I'm going to pass it to you since you are on the committee. >> Thank you. Um, I will hand the report over to Emily, >> Miss Taylor. Excuse me. >> That's fine. Good evening, everyone. Uh, so for our September financial report, as as you all know, our budget for this fiscal year is $93 million, $124,314. And as of September 30th, we've spent uh 68 million of of that 93 million, which is about 73.6%. 6%. Um that's trending just a tiny bit higher than last year. It was about 71% at this time um on September 30th. The big change from last month to this month is that we have encumbered our largest account. So that would be transportation and payroll line items. Um we encumber our certified salaries. We
017don't encumber our classified salaries. So teachers encumbered but like our para educators are not um are not fully encumbered. Some financial highlights from this month uh is that we have our strategic preparations for next fiscal year are already underway. We're doing building walkthroughs right now. We've done two today. We were at Dodd and Dittle this morning to look at some of the maintenance and technology requests for next year. And then we are meeting with building administrators uh within the coming weeks to evaluate some um you know beyond the facility needs and uh technology needs that we're talking about this week. some other key operational initiatives. So already underway for next year. Uh something that I had mentioned last meeting was the expansion of Connecticut paid leave in the Connecticut Family Medical Leave Act which went
018into effect for um school districts, public school districts October 1st. So we are already seeing claims being submitted by our classified staff. That impacts pair of professionals, custodians, and transportation staff. It is not our teachers are not eligible for Connecticut paid leave or the fa Connecticut family medical leave act but they are eligible for federal family medical leave act. Another thing that I just wanted to um bring up actually Adam you or Mr. Grippo you brought this up last time was are there any opportunities for some grants with facilities and there is a new one. So, I know we had talked about like the HVAC grants in prior years and kind of the new iteration of that is called the DRIP uh program, which is the district repair and improvement program. It's a brand new
019program. It's allocating about $60 million over the state for um facilities upgrades that could look like HVAC, plumbing, or roofing repairs. Cheshure is eligible for about $180,000. Uh but there's no information about how we actually apply or get the grant, but they will be releasing the grant in June 2026. So it is ran by the Office of Policy and Management. It's not a CSDE grant. So we're just kind of waiting to see what the next steps are with the grant application process, but $180,000 is what we are potentially eligible for. Um but we don't really know what that looks like or what specifically we could apply it for. And then the last thing I have as a financial highlight, something that I had talked about in the July finance report was some of the energy
020price locks, uh, where we had locked most of our commodity pricing for the year. Usually around this time, we're locking our propane pricing. Um, but we're not, there's not a lot of places that are wanting to lock for propane, but we're currently paying about$ 229 per gallon. Something that is going to change from this year to next year is, you know, we allocate about $35,000 for prop propane of the Darcy school, but when Darcy comes offline, we're really going to only need about $3,000 for propane costs for the next fiscal year. So, just something to know, it's not going to really be that big of an item as we go into next year. And so, you can see the prices that I provided uh in July below here. And then the last thing I'll say
021is just the medical benefits report uh was not available when I was writing this report. So when we have our next meeting, I will make sure to go over uh September and at that point October. And then just as a reminder, the medical benefits fund uh is $15,958,339. Um that's the budget for this year. And we've been contributing about $1.2 million to fund the reserve account, which is an increase from the prior fiscal year to account for um you know, increased anticipated expenditures for that account. So that's what I have. Thank you. >> Thank you. Thanks for the update. The the propane budget is going to $3,000. >> Is so my question is that at Darcy, are we going to be using Darcy into the next fiscal year? Yeah, we're we're going to get we're
022going to be meeting with the town hopefully in the next few weeks to talk about carrying costs for Darcy and Chapman. Um and you know what the plan is to transition from the board of ed over to the town. Um but obviously when we have the buildings, which will likely be into the fall of 2026, we are going to have to keep like minimal heat costs, okay, um in into play. So it's not like going to be a as September hits, we're handing the keys over. We're probably going to have a little bit of time just so we can make sure the buildings are cleared and we'll keep everything minimally heated and just kind of a skeleton um budget for that. But yeah, Darcy, I mean the the propane is mainly used at Darcy. >>
023Okay. Uh has the council had any public deliberations on like use of Chapman or Darcy at this point? I haven't I haven't talked to any of them. I'm just curious. Okay. No. >> Um thank you for that. And then my other question, >> performance contract, any update on it? That's going to be later in the board meeting. There you go. >> Got it. Okay. Thank you. >> Other questions, Mr. Burbo? >> So, my question actually, I guess sort of maybe has to do with the performance contract, too. Um, but uh so this grant the the number you gave is oddly specific. So, does that mean that that was like the like a pre-awward like OPM told you this is what you're eligible for? >> Yeah. So, there's actually a really great I I didn't print
024it out for this meeting, but um the state like uh finance project actually has a really great like three to four page um article about the drip grant where it shows all the allocations per school district and then the funding how they've determined like part of it is need-based and how they determine each district and it is yes a very oddly specific figure but there's a bunch of calculations that played into how Cheshire got the 180,000. So, is it safe to say that um HVAC systems in every school are no longer a priority for the state of Connecticut? >> Because it used to be a like a big push and now what? Maybe that's because we all had the ARPA funds. >> That push is still there. They're just not, >> you know, they're funding
025it uh based on the percentages that Yeah. I don't know what you're doing with 180 grand in the district besides Cheshure, but >> Yeah. >> Okay. Thank you. Oh, and um um not a lot of variances there. So, running a tight ship looks like. So, congratulations. >> Miss Colin, did you have a question? >> With that drip grant, there was a seed grant that came out too. >> Are we eligible for that at all? >> Yeah, I I can address that. That's uh the special education grant that is uh the the state has indicated that a frequently asked questions uh component to that is coming for some time. Um my guess is it'll probably be tomorrow. they like to put stuff out on Friday and um kind of like this grant that there's allegedly an
026allocation that uh we may use but that money must uh supplement and not supplant our operating budget. So it has to be for new things above and beyond what we already do. And I think you know for those of you who know me I really don't love creating fiscal cliffs if we can avoid them you know by by implementing services. So and it there are rigid parameters around that money. So um we're eagerly awaiting the the FAQ on that before we you know have a lot of real rich discussion on it but we'll certainly bring that up when uh when we get it. Other questions? That's >> Thank you, Miss Taylor. >> Thank you all. >> I guess that concludes finance then. Um, next committee would be policy. Mr. Aki, looks like you have a
027full slate there. >> It was uh it was a long meeting. Um, we started talking with uh Jody Yoler from from CABE talking about best practices. >> Um, and he made a couple suggestions that uh Dr. Dr. Sen's going to follow up with putting uh putting some ideas together uh regarding our bylaws. In addition, and I'm going to pass this over um as the uh suspension expulsion thing is always changing, it's changing again. So, Dr. Solen is explain some of the uh changes that we're looking at. >> Thank you. Um, so as Mark indicated, there were four policies that we spent a fair amount of time on and really these are all changes to existing policy driven by legislation and frankly have very little impact on our daily practice, but I think hold um legally
028hold now every district to the same sort of standard with which we do most of our business. The uh first one, suspension and um expulsion due process does stuff like for example outline um how old you what you what sort of consequences might be available for kids in prek through grade two for out of school suspension. That is extremely limited for us. I I frankly can't remember one in my 10 years as superintendent where you're out of school suspending a a kindergartener. Um they require behavior intervention meetings when you know in advance of things like outplacement. Um that you have to notify parents when you um have a student who engages in a serious disruption in class and things that um again things that we're already doing. They put in place protections for kids that
029are homeless. Again, that really um thankfully is a very small percentage of our population, incredibly rare for us. But if a student is suspended or expelled from school, you have to ensure that it wasn't in some way a function of their um their homelessness. Uh like I said, preschool to grade two limit to five days and only for violent or harmful behavior. Out of school suspensions, again, not something that we do a lot. uh if if ever really. Um so a lot of the stuff that was integrated into this uh policy are things that either rarely impact us or that we already do. Uh again, another special population piece in this policy is um protections of due process for providing supports for students in juvenile detention. So again, thankfully a minuscule portion of our our
030population. So a lot of these things in this in these policies you'll see is as I continue to go through them are things that thankfully don't impact us too much. One that was a little bit different is 6171. We already have a policy for special education and it really kind of outlines special education um service provision. However, the the significant change here was around a section called evaluation of special ed program. This is new and this is uh just in the last legislative session, but the vast majority of districts haven't completed this yet because uh we just met with Shipman and Goodwin last week who provided a lot of uh more content around a lot of direction around a report that the superintendent is supposed to provide to the board of education. And so I
031will provide that report next month. But the there are three elements within this report. The first is the number of names of all community- based organizations with whom the board of ed has executed a formal MOA or contract to provide support services to students in the school district disagregated by school and type of support service provided. That's basically special education services. Um who do we contract for that? Um for us thankfully it's it's it's not much. Um then the second piece is workforce development programs offered by the board of ed to students in which the board has partnered with an outside entity including but not limited to cooperatives internships in school job training programs provided by businesses and inschool workforce board presentations. Um and then three attrition data for certified and non-certified staff disagregated by
032school and subject not including in district transfers. That should be pretty easily available to you. Um it says not including in district transfers. The only other question I have is around retirement that we're still trying to verify that. But um we you know we could it's easy enough for us because we just don't have that big a number uh to include retirement as well. So you could see that but I don't know if that's necessary for the formal report or not. Uh so that was the special education the big tweak in that policy. The next policy was um individualized education programs. Again, it made changes, but not anything that's like significantly um you know, different for us. for example, with an initial uh IEP with an initial evaluation. Uh the school district currently has a
03345day timeline that begins after we receive the referral form that's adding and it adds a 60 calendar day uh completion of of so it's you know six one half a dozen of the other kind of thing. Um, we have to provide parents with Connecticut State Department of Ed information resources as soon as the child is identified as needing special education. That's something we do anyway. It um PPT meetings uh offer meeting with the parents prior to the initial PPT to review process and the concerns. the often um parents are are consulted in that process when they're what's called the scientifically researchbased intervention process. Interventions are already in place. We're looking to see how they go how they how they work for students before we go to an IEP. So, um a lot of the stuff
034that was embedded in here is stuff that we already do. outlines responsibilities for a district transition coordinator, which we've we've had for years. And it's really on the emphasis now that the districts uh provide support for students with uh more significant needs up to the age of 22. It's, you know, starting in sixth grade. How do you support that transition to uh state services after uh children leave the Cheshire public school system? And that's a that's really for our students who have more significant needs. And uh we've been I think exceptionally good at doing that already for years. And I I appreciate that there's a lot of anxiety around transitioning from Cheshire public schools and the the services we provide to the state. But this is what the law kind of outlines. It also provides
035a lot of provisions for things like when kids leave the school system either to go to a tech school or uh students receiving IEPs. It just kind of codifies in the law that districts have to be responsive when you get a request for records and you get those records out uh quickly, including um you know, re reviewing students who might be moving in who have an out of district placement from where they came from. uh in a special ed services. And then the the big one for special education is that uh in the last cycle, the last legislative cycle, you remember that there are going to be approved special ed facilities. So that's that's baked into this process as well. Now, uh that you have to send students if you want excess cost reimbursement to
036the approved facilities. Uh the last policy posting was for military children. Again, you know, anytime that we get students, whether their families in the military or not, we um are very expedient about, you know, facilitating records and facilitating placement in the school. And this just kind of outlines um you know, requirements that districts have. For example, we must honor the placement of students in all courses from the sending school. Um, so if the student was in honors or the AP, we have to bring them into AP in our school, too. You know, it it's really pretty straightforward to the point where I think most of us would look at it and go, seriously, you don't do that now? But, uh, the the need was there apparently to put it the language into law. Um, so
037we went through the four of those. Um, and the last item was a discussion on menstrual products in schools. And I've been working with Vin and Emily and um uh Rich Clevette to try and um put in dispensers at the uh starting as immediately as possible with the high school girls rooms, then the middle school. The issue when this became law was the price gouging that was happening was outrageous. And we we already have uh feminine hygiene products available in our nurses offices at no charge to uh anybody who needs them. And um now we're working on trying to put dispensers into the ladies rooms first and foremost. >> Quick question. Um, the military families, is that state law or federal law? >> Um, I know it's state law. I don't know the federal law.
038>> I was just curious, you know, I I not that I have any issues or anything with I was just curious if it was coming from the state or if that was a national. >> This I know was a state uh piece that was put in, but it looks like uh it's part of the interstate compact on educational opportunity for military children. which sounds federal to me. Um, and then this the other part of the legal reference on that was uh Connecticut general statute. So, uh, predominantly state law. >> Thank you, >> Mr. White. >> Thank you. Um, with regard to the feminine hygiene products, what's the cost of that per bathroom now? not what it was when they were gouging, but >> well, we're looking at different options. Uh, >> it depends on the
039dispenser. I Vin, do you recall the original I mean the original cost was like like a,000 bucks a dispenser and we're like seriously like that that was robbery and and it's obviously we have a lot of bathrooms and so that was you know um a little ridiculous. So then we've come back and now we're looking at different options. The state the the law does allow for things as simple as a basket with products in it. And I think we're less concerned about vandalism in women's rooms with those products, but it does have a, like I said, a diversity of options. So we're trying to work with Rich Nancy, uh, our lead nurse at for the school system. um you know, Linda, our nurse at the middle school, to start to figure out like what's what's
040going to best meet the needs of our kids. >> Okay, >> Dr. Sen, I I actually this came up when we were doing walkthroughs today at um Dodd and I believe that uh Victor Sandival, who does our uh facilities, was saying that one of the quotes he got was for $400 a dispenser. So, I know yes, they're they're >> still I mean, it's obviously dramatically different than a thousand. Um, and we're looking to do it in a way that, you know, best meets our kids needs. >> Have do we So, do we have these in the bathrooms or just in the nurse's office right now? >> Right now, they're only available in the nurse's office, >> the product. >> I'm curious, how big a concern is this? Like, how the nurse I'm assuming you've asked
041the nurse the question like how many how many requests is she given does she get or she he I have no idea. A day or a week? Oh, I don't know about a day, but and it's and and uh they don't have it where >> um like they don't go directly to the nurse usually. They go into the bathroom where it's available. Um so, >> oh, like there's a bathroom in the nurse's office. Yes. Okay, got it. >> Yeah, both buildings, uh middle and high school. It actually Yeah, every building, but uh all of our nurses offices have a restroom. Yeah, I know the elementary school, >> but um >> yeah, so they're not going directly to the nurse, but it is it is utilized. >> Yeah, I'm just going to say that uh we
042have to comply with state law, but this just seems like a an unnecessary expense. Well, you know, we want to do it in a way that um meets the needs of our students, um is dignified, limits vandalism, um limits abuse, uh and so we're trying to balance all those things with the different parties I mentioned, and I think we're pretty conscious of that, and we'll we'll get it done. >> Are you done? >> I just had one followup question. Um you mentioned homelessness. Yeah. >> In the first point, I'm just curious in the first policy. I'm just curious >> if you could give a number over the past 5 years. >> Have we had any homeless kids? >> We have. And just a like a ballpark number like five kids for five years, one kid
043for three months. Just curious if you have an idea. >> Probably I mean it it can be a family which will impact >> could impact several kids. Um it is extremely rare. The most common reason that we have for homelessness is somebody who has a home that is somehow significantly damaged and they have to move into a temporary location and therefore become technically homeless. you know, >> okay, >> it's um sometimes insurance can cover that, sometimes they don't and people are um unfortunately, you know, living in a a place that they wouldn't have chosen to live in. And um but it is incredibly rare for us. Uh so it happens probably two to three times a year. >> Okay. It it happens with enough frequency that we're aware of it. Um, >> and it's pro
044it's more often something like a a month or two rather than like a couple years. >> Yeah. >> Okay. >> It it's usually temporary. >> Okay. Thank you. >> And we're like we're required to provide transportation in those cases even if the person establishes a doicile outside of Cheshure. So, if a family loses their home here and are able to find residents uh temporary residents in Wallingford, we're driving them back and forth to Wallingford. >> Okay. >> We're required to provide that transportation. >> Every district is. Yeah. >> Thank you. >> Yep. >> Going back to the uh situation with the menstrual products. So, we have to put those in every bathroom. >> No. Um, women's bathrooms, uh, 3 through 12, uh, gender a genderneutral bathroom and one male bathroom. So, obviously, you know, we're
045prioritizing the the women's rooms first based on cost and >> dare see how that works. >> Dare I ask how many bathrooms that would be? >> It's a lot. I don't I don't recall the count off the top of my head, Mark. >> Okay. I was just, you know, I've been thinking about this since our meeting and I'm like, yeah, >> that's a lot. >> It's a lot of bathrooms. >> Yeah. >> And um like we talked about in the meeting, I mean, this started as a an issue for women's prisons and then just kind of spiraled into school, too. And you know, I I absolutely want every young lady, anybody who needs menstrual products to have access to them. We try and do that now through the nurse's office. And I, you know, for
046me as an adult man, you know, I could ignorantly sit here and say it seems to be working now, but I I don't know. Maybe I'm not a 12-year-old girl who feels uncomfortable go asking at the nurse. I don't know. >> So, um, I'd rather make sure. And so, we're going to work on that. >> And, and our girls are aware that they can go to the nurse. >> Yeah. Yeah. >> Okay. >> Yeah. >> Thank you. Sure. >> Um just as a final point to this subject. Um the other point, the other part that's not really reflected in our minutes was the uh the unfortunate uh time and memorial uh issue of general availability of women's bathrooms at the high school and mostly at the high school where we still at least at least
047for me an anecdotally the the biggest complaints I get are from parents with with daughters who still can't uh get to a uh use the bathroom that's perhaps closest to their classroom and they're still required to go somewhere else inside the school. Um, you know, we had the discussion about vandalism where most of the vandalism occurs inside the a boy's bathroom statistically speaking anyway. Um, but there's still the issue of that all the all the girls bathrooms still aren't available all the time or you know and how maybe how to fix that going forward because there doesn't seem to be a resolution on that issue because even if all the bathrooms had menstrual products, well, some of them still aren't available in a in a timely manner for all students. So that's still an issue
048that we're dealing with even >> it it is um that's I think that's a a Connecticut issue when I talk to peers like every high school bathroom issue um with vaping and other products and vandalism and congregation and uh it was a issue you know 15 years ago when I was Cheshire High School principal with smoking you know uh I did meet with uh a group of high school students today and Mr. Hanlin. Um we talked about some goals that they had for Cheshire High School this year. One of which was around um you know taking a look at the E hallway. They they recognize that the vandalism is incredibly expensive and problematic. They recognize that it's uncomfortable to go into a bathroom and kids are smoking or vaping, you know, um, and they think
049it's awful to have to, uh, you know, not have immediate access to restrooms. So, so do we. We all share that. So, we're we're always trying to look to see how we can improve that >> with us. A couple questions on it on the 5114 the homeless students just to go back. Um >> is there someone in charge of McKinley Vento in the district? >> Yes, that's Robin and Carrie. >> Okay, Robin. Okay. Um and on the 617 one you mentioned about those community groups that we have an MOA or anou with, right? >> Can you be a little bit give you an example. >> Yeah. >> So, um, reread books. >> Yep. >> For example, we contract with them for job training. Uh, is an example of somebody that we might use. >> Um,
050>> and this is where we were looking at uh some nuanced questions. So, we are technically ourselves a contractor for the state for birth to three, >> right? Does anybody that we contract with, there's a woman, Cindy Jackson, who's done this for us forever, does she is she somebody that we identify or not? So like there's some of these nuances we're still trying to work out before I can give you the report to so I know exactly who we are supposed to identify. >> Actually, just in another meeting I was in today, that exact question came up like who do we >> Yeah. >> Um is it aces? Is it the rest? Is it >> Yeah. How broad are we talking? that you know somebody works after school and get some credit. I mean like
051what >> where does it stop? And the third thing is um like we'll get the full >> um policy before we're asked to vote on it. >> Yeah, the the policy is in here redlined. >> Oh, okay. Okay. >> Yeah, it's in there. So on the um at least then we'll make sure we share I think it's in the board packet but if you even if it's easier to just go to the policy agenda you can click right on revise policy and uh and Marie if you do have suggestions I think uh in our meeting I I think we decided that we're probably going to be even though these are first readings we are still going to go through these a lot went in a lot more detail. Uh anyhow, so >> one of them
052is 50 something 54. >> Yeah, they're ridiculously long. >> The first one is the wicked long one. >> It's a book, good book to read. >> Other comments? >> I do have a just for clarification, Dr. Solen. Um so that there's no you know misconception of the 5114 suspension policy that that's separate from the public act for bullying which is a separate climate policy. It's not incorporated into this at all. >> Correct. Right. Okay. >> Correct. >> Um and the other comment I just want to make is I do appreciate Dr. Harrian's not there. I do appreciate you bringing up the topic of the menstrual products. Um because as you're speaking about it, I'm traveling my middle school self and how you know you approaching it on with sensitivities that I did not want to
053go to the nurs's office. I preferred to have it accessible to me and that was years ago. So I like the fact that this policy is coming up and I'm hoping we do this in a quicker turnaround time and that there's some sort of you know plan to replenish every so often. um whether it is incorporated in our cleaning services crew. I don't know what the considerations are at this moment in time. >> Yeah, that's what we're working on with Rich right now. >> Any other comments from board members? Mr. Ek, is that it for policy? >> Yes. Thank you. >> Great. Awesome. Next committee would be um any other outstanding committees? Um the only thing I would say here is that you know if if board members have not um done so u Mr.
054Zinski there's a CAB um board conference November 20th. >> Is that what it is? >> Yeah. It's uh >> the convention. Yeah. So um I highly encourage you guys to if possible please attend. Typically it's just myself, Mr. Gripple and Mr. Perigene, right? Um and Amory, you were there last year as well too. So um that's concludes any committee reports. We move on. If you can take a look at the minutes so that we can approve them. Let's see. So I do need a motion. Mr. Gripple, if you want to move that the Cherish Board of Education approve the minutes from the meeting from the meeting held September 18th, 2025. Is there a second? >> Mr. Eki's second. Um, after review, are there any additions or corrections to call out? Hearing none. Um, all those
055in favor of the motion that is on the floor. Unanimous. Thank you. Motion passes. Move on to correspondence. Mr. Gripp, are there any correspondence? >> I have no correspondence. >> Awesome. and then Dr. Solen, superintendent report. >> Thank you. >> Um, relatively quick this evening. um just made aware this week that uh as part of IDA, the the special education grant, uh as a district who receives funds, we're subject to periodic uh they call it systematic approach to integrated mon monitoring, which means that several times throughout the course of this year, we'll have people come and evaluate our special education delivery to make sure that we're um integrating our services as we're supposed to. Uh that'll happen this month through May 2026. I have no reservations. Um I'm excited that last night the Chapman uh
056elementary school held their first seal night, the social emotional learning night. Uh they talked about uh things like the intellectual habits framework, responsive classroom, they called it growing great kids, social emotional learning. Um and they had a good showing last night. Talked about relationship skills, peace path, social awareness, the class charter, how you could create a charter at home, self-awareness, things like the mood meter, self-management, decision making. So, um, kindness. Uh, I really appreciate all of our teacher volunteers who came last night and the families who showed up. Uh, had a great event. Uh, so that was exciting. Um, speaking of exciting, Marlene and I had the opportunity to attend with a number of other uh, leaders from across the Cheshire public schools earlier this week. Um uh it's called the science of reading master
057class. Um I think we pride ourselves on u and our data certainly reflects um that our students are are doing a good job mastering reading. But I think part of the reason that we're successful is because we're always aspiring to be better at it. So, uh, Miss Solano, Miss Rzzik, uh, and six others, uh, seven others maybe from the Cheshire public schools were, um, invited to attend in the science of reading master class. It is a who's who of reading gurus that present over the course of uh, five different sessions throughout the year. We're partnered with another school system um of folks who have enrolled. They call them affinity groups. Ours is going to be it looks like Danberry. This year uh we are assigned a reading coach and a leadership coach to support the
058integration of uh science of reading into what we do. But again, that's something that we've really committed to well before science of reading was popular. And so we were asked to write a goal right now. Our draft is our goal is the validation of our program, our reading program that our excuse me, the validation that our reading program is tightly aligned to the science of reading and the confidence to ensure that all those working with students in K through three have the confidence and confidence to ensure that all students can read successfully. We want to do better. Uh even though like I said, you know, compared to the state, we do well, but we want to do better. So, um I'm excited that we're enrolled in this. I I was kind of tongue and cheek
059when I said the exciting opportunity, but we are actually, you know, looking forward to it and uh we're kicking that off uh just this week. The other thing that I wanted to make you aware of is I've started to make some uh inquiries with principles about when I can get to a PTO meeting at the elementary schools to talk about uh the redistricting. um because I know that's a a topic that has a lot of anxiety for some families and um I don't know that I'm going to quell that anxiety, but I want to try and at least hear out what the concerns are and and try and give them a heads up. I mean, the biggest question I get is, well, can't I just regardless of the redistricting, can't I just like sign my
060kid up to stay in the same school and provide transportation? No. is unfortunately the the problem there. We have more than 200 students will be moving out of Highland into other buildings and we're going to have to just move a significant number of sha staff to accommodate that. Um putting staff in limbo and not having parking spaces and doing all this other stuff. Um and not to mention the fact that the state is reimbursing us millions and millions of dollars. uh to not do that uh would be incredibly difficult. So our focus and my focus in these meetings is not so much about well what can I do to to not make my child move but what can we do to support your child in a positive transition. Um what will make that better? And
061I think it's bringing kids together before the end of this school year. um engaging in fun activities, doing tours of the new buildings for these kids that have to move to really build that excitement and and camaraderie uh is going to be an important part of what we do. So, I'll keep you posted as I as I engage in those meetings. That's it for me. >> Any questions? Mr. Gri, >> thank you. Um, so to begin, so are we, so that means we're now allowed to be better in reading. >> Um, I feel like there's something baked into that question. Um, >> yes, right to read. >> Yes, the right to read. Um, we've submitted our programs. Um the state told us basically that you know your program isn't uh our you your submission of
062that isn't like a blessing or not or whatever it just it is and so um we are working really closely with state. I think we we do fulfill the science of reading and that's why if you I think if they listen closely to our goal about validation, you know, it's in there that we are but we're we're going to take another look at it and we do want to improve um with the programs that we have. >> That's encouraging. >> That is encouraging. >> Um and then secondly, uh redistricting. Um what was it last month? We saw the initial plan A, which I think we all agreed was terrible. Um, at least I thought so. >> Yeah. That wasn't really a plan. >> Yeah. >> Like what it could possibly look like like two years
063ago. >> So, and then it sounded like late fall was supposed to be the real plan. And so, does that mean next month or after that? Um, I I don't want to put a date on it until I get actual confirmation from Mike Zuba who's doing it. And unfortunately, I was out sick two days this week and at the conference. And so, Vin and I are trying to nail down a time to talk to Mike about do we have a better exact date of when we could tell people we're doing this? >> So, s because I think you said something about like options. >> Yeah, three options. come before our community >> and I think we have to take a look at how do we want to evaluate those options, get information out to the
064board and then it'll come back to us to make a decision on one of those three. So then you're you're saying that the uh the options are going to go out to the community like the school start times and then we're going to get feedback that way and then the board is going to consider which to choose or is it going to be like a a tour like with the school with the new schools or you we're going to go to those the PTO meetings and hear parents feelings about it or >> Yeah. I I don't know yet, Adam, to be honest with you, >> until we see the three options. And I think that's why I wanted to talk to Mike because um you know, I'm not sure. I I think all three will
065be feasible. Um >> if it's anything close to the suggestions that he made, I think >> Yeah. >> Yes. Yeah. >> Yeah. I but I want to confirm that before we say well we're going to vote on other >> the this body may look and say >> this one is DOA we're not doing that >> you know this is going to take 48 more buses a year and we can't do that and so now we're looking at two so I don't really want to commit to say all right this is going to be our process until I'm really much more confident about what the options look like and you guys can feel confident with what the options look like. But I think, you know, it is important to get community feedback and be transparent about
066the process. That's pretty much how we do everything. Um, and you know, again, we and I know that people aren't going to be some people aren't going to be happy. Um, but how do we make sure we make a decision not just best for the 256 school year, but the decade after that? you know, our our current our current um district uh outlines been in place for more than two decades. Like we don't want to make a short-term decision that's a long-term disaster either. So, you know, I'd like to see what those look like, communicate that broadly, get the feedback, and be able to communicate a rationale on why we collectively made that decision or you collectively made that decision. >> But, thank you. Other thoughts, story? >> Yeah. So, I'm going to go off
067of unrelated to what you said, but this is something that struck me in the past month, and I just wanted to share my thoughts. I saw sometime recently that the So, this has to do with the US government. There's a whole lot of stuff going on and I'm never quite sure what to expect from day to day. But sometime in the past month I saw um I saw an article about uh the Department of Education the um Linda McMahon basically getting involved in the naming of mascots or the mascot of a school on Long Island. >> Yeah, >> I just I vehemently disagree with that. I am a believer in local school control. Um my analogy why it why it struck me is here in Cheshure last year we were discussing the calendar and we
068were talking about a difference of opinion on what to name Columbus Day or Indigenous People's Day. My view is uh my view is simple that we can have elections here in town and we can sort it out here and we don't need anybody from the US government telling us what to do. who the voters can decide through elections that we have here. Um I I just think that's I think it's really important to um I just really wanted to share my thoughts that I do believe in local control. The same thing has to do with the state because I know I complain about the state often enough about what they do right to read or anything else. And the same applies for the US government getting involved in decisions like names of mascots or whatever
069the the woke issue is or something like that as as it could be described. It's just uh it's a local issue and nobody people in Washington and my opinion in Hartford don't need to be involved either. That's it. Thank you. >> Other thoughts? No, Miss Cullen. Thank you, Dr. stolen. Uh we move on to uh there's no old business and then our new business. Um the only thing I do I just have to say is uh you know obviously is election day um ahead of us. Um especially early voting starts October 20th um till November 2nd and then obviously you can vote in person on November 4th. Um just to those watching and the public in general, you know, it's voting matters. It's powerful. Um, it helps shape our community. So, I'd encourage everybody out
070there to just take the time, cast your ballots, you know, beforehand, read up on the candidates and so on. Um, and just make your your voice heard and known. So, because every vote does count. Um, and specifically this year too, we do have some referendum items that pertain to our schools. Um, I believe number three has to do with all of them actually have to um do with Cheshire High School. Um, number three is the fire alarm. Um, number four is the turf, which I've seen a lot social media wise being discussed. Um, and then number five is the self parking lot, too. So, again, I encourage everybody to go to our treasure.ct.gov site, read up on that um, and just be informed before they go to the voting booths. Outside of that, there are
071some upcoming meetings, but we do have to change the dates a bit. So, >> yeah, we want to confirm through the 15th. >> Yeah. >> Open forum for people, >> right? >> So, we're looking at the the regular board meeting would be um >> well, we want to confirm October 15th. Um, right, Carol, for the open forum which is next Wednesday. >> So, we're still we're still working on that. >> I think I think we have >> Tim, does that work for you? October 15th, open forum night. >> I hope so. >> I think we had four people earlier that responded. >> That's October 15th. >> Yep. >> Yeah. So, I think we're good there. >> So, we're good for the 15th, which will be at 7:30. um location is still tentative. >> Yeah, check.
072>> Okay. Um October 20th would be curriculum um in the Humon boardroom at 7:00 and then November 3rd, we're looking at 7 o'clock for the policy committee at Humon boardroom as well. And then I think there's a typo because I have November 6th. >> November 6 it is. >> Okay. >> So the six uh an early meeting at seven with the joint NGSBC and the board of ed at Dodd. Um, prior to that we are doing a walk through at 4:00. Dr. Sun. >> So that night we have 4:30 we're doing a walk through of Norton. 5:30 uh the board is doing a walk through of uh North End. At uh 7, we're doing a joint meeting with the NextGen School Building Committee. >> Yep. >> At 7:15, we'll have the middle school showcase at
073Dodd. At 8:00, unfortunately, we have to um conduct our business meeting that night as well. We have to cancel the November the 20th, 20th >> meeting. November 20th was our typical meeting um business meeting. So, we're going to move that up to the November 6th agenda, which will be six hours of board of ed business. So excited. Um and then November 10th, we're looking at the curriculum committee again at Human for 7:00. Um just some other upcoming dates for the public. Uh November 4th is a professional development for teachers. There's no school for students. Um, oh, there's an awards night November 19th for the superintendent awards dinner. >> Yeah. >> Where's that typically held, Dr. Sen? >> We do that at Dodd Middle School for the board and uh special honores. >> Great. And then
074we do have Thanksgiving break, November 27th through the 28th. Uh we move into December, which will be our winter break, December 24th through January 2nd. And uh for January 19th would be um honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Okay. And those are the dates to remember. And with that, I do want to call for Yes, Mr. Gripple. >> Just add like to add one more zing before uh we adjourn. Uh and that that the uh the BOE open form meeting should not be confused with any sort of BOE candidate forum uh where we could uh debate ideas uh before the voters uh choose. Uh at least the town town council gets one. That's all. >> Mr. White, did you have a question? >> Yeah, I thought we were going to get a quick update on
075the >> performance. M Taylor, did you have an update? >> Energy performance. >> So, he was go to the mic. >> You're getting paid. Come on. >> Getting away. >> I didn't Can you hear me? >> Yeah. >> I I didn't expect to get away tonight, but >> 20 or$30 million dollars. We get an update on this. >> Okay. Okay. So, I have a I have a number of updates. Um, first is that we're still working through with the school building committee the final locations of solar arrays either on the building, which is the case of Norton or on the building as well as some groundbased uh or solar carport at Barnum. So, that's still work that's continuing. will be meeting with the school building committee and Johnson Controls on October 23rd is the next
076scheduled date. The um I I believe I gave the update last month that we submitted the NRES applications. We won't be hearing on those until midocctober for the six solar submissions and then likely um first or second week in November on the fuel cell at Chesher High School. So that's all been submitted. Uh we started this week submitting some of the school construction grants. So that's in progress. We'll have to work with the state and Johnson Controls, you know, to get through all the details and I expect that to be a lengthy process. Um and then the last portion of incentives is the investment tax credit. So, I'll be uh pursuing that, you know, with Johnson Controls and our owners rep and CLA uh which are our auditors, but they were engaged as a special
077project for the new schools to get the investment tax credit for the geothermal, which is already in it's already been submitted. So, those are the three incentive pieces that that are being worked on. Um, Bank of America financing for funding the energy performance contract is approved. We had a conference call with a large group um from Bank of America, uh, the town the town's bond council, m Mr. Jim Jascott, finance director, Sean Kimble, town manager. So, we're teed up to close on that October 31st. So that is also progressing along. And the last thing that I wanted to let you know is that the the initiatives that I've been talking about solar and the fuel cell at the high school, those are the fasttrack renewables that we put ahead of all the other project work
078because of uh the incentives for the investment tax credit that we don't want to lose those before they expire. So, we're trying really hard not not to lose any of the funding that's available because it's obviously important to the project, but there's a lot of other energy conservation measure work that's still continuing with Johnson Controls. We met with them today. We got an update on the status of all the other energy conservation measures which they are working through. Some of those include doing um HVAC, full HVAC at Dittle, replacing the Dittle roof if we're going to put solar panels on that roof, also replacing the windows at Dittle, doing the um building management system upgrades across school and town buildings, the police boilers, which is a priority for the town, and also the fuel cell
079at the wastewater treatment plant is another high priority item. So all that work is continuing. We should see those um second round of energy conservation measures probably mid November. So you know work is progressing. We we're we're on a timeline that will continue to work and um I'll just keep you updated. >> Question. >> Yeah. Uh yeah, thank you. Um I I think this should be a very quick question and I think I know the answer but to confirm it because he's now in the headlines. Costa Diamontis guy was like on trial for school build construction corruption. Did that have anything to do with us or we started basically anything that any of those problems? We started our timeline after he was done. >> So we're clean and we're free and clear from anything related
080to that. >> You're asking about our school construction project. >> Yeah. And the guy who's on trial right now. >> Yeah. That that >> those issues predated the applications we put in. >> Huh. >> Gotcha. Okay. I don't really understand that, but >> Well, we met with OCG. >> Oh, >> with the proposal that got Yeah. Okay. Okay. Up at uh Cheshure Park. >> Yep. >> Got it. Okay. You got that now. And then a second one sec another question um for the chair and for the superintendent. Uh, are we planning a legislative committee meeting? And if so, do we have something moving along on that? No, no details necessary, but just >> Yeah, we'd like to meet with the legislative reps before the legislative session. >> Okay. Which starts in February this year. Yeah.
081>> Yeah. This cycle. Okay. >> Thank you. >> Any other board members? Thank you, Mr. Masiana. >> No. Anybody want to call for a motion to adjurnn? >> Nobody wants to leave, right? Um, second, Mr. White. Yes. Awesome. All those in favor of adjournment, unanimous. Thank you. Mr. The Giants game score.